A Big ol' Change for 2012

Levenhagen Photography opened April 1st, 2011.

Being my first year in business, 2011 was a HUGE learning experience for me! I learned, sometimes the hard way, how quickly being a small business owner, with a full time job at another company AND two little kids can be overly consuming. I started getting really burnt out and got to a point where I wasn't "feeling" my worth. I quickly decided that 2012 was going to bring a lot of changes!

The first change was my price increase (2012 pricing can be found HERE). As I wanted to built clientele and relationships, I had extremely low pricing. While I pretty much worked for nothing the entire year (actually, just that...NOTHING. I made pretty close to $0 profit in 2011) I do not regret a minute of it. I appreciate all of my long time friends as well as new friends who fully believed in me and helped to grow my business. I am so grateful for the amount of work I was able to obtain and was incredibly blessed to meet so many new, amazing, wonderful people along the way from clients to vendors to fellow photographers.

The second change was to sit back and decide "what" I really wanted my business to be. I really don't have the time or energy to be a "jack of all trades" photographer. I made a decision - actually a no-brainer decision - that I would aim my business towards the photography of newborns, children and families. It is what I love; children are my absolute passion and I couldn't see myself in any other business!

The third change was to "rebrand" my business. Sure I had a logo and a letterhead and a few other materials, but I quickly tired of all of it. I started feeling like I just slapped the pieces together and just settled on something because it was easy. So, once I decided on a color scheme for the "new: Levenhagen Photography (gray and yellow) it was time to start working on designs. I am so over the top happy with my branding package now. I spent so much time on it, everything is cohesive, and it is totally "me".

Finally, I made a decision to be COMPLETELY organized. From the storage of my props and equipment to the filing of contracts and other paperwork to the digital backup procedures I practice. I have invested a small amount of money in software and programs that I feel will make my business one hundred times more proficient and successful.

So, looking ahead for this year and many more years, I am feeling great about my business and where it is going.

Youngpeter Family

It always makes me so happy when family ask me to create their portraits! Uncle David, Aunt Linda and Brandon hadn't had family portraits done in a VERY long time...so it was my job to make these special for them! Brandon was totally a stud, working the camera, and David and Linda couldn't be more in love...which shows in their portraits!

Londyn is ONE {Sibert Family}

Londyn is such a SWEET, mellow little girl! She braved one of the coldest days of the fall (and definitely the windiest day) during her one year session. She came with overly adorable outfits, as always, and hammed it up for the camera! We finished the session with some studio photography where she wasn't as miserable!

 

See more Londyn during her 6 month session.

Kasey & Emma

This had to have been the most nonchalant session ever! Kasey really wanted some "mommy and me" photographs of herself and her baby girl just being them. So I was pretty much just there to photograph and not provide a lot of direction. It was amazing! I look at these photos and really feel like I am in those moments with them. What memories to cherish!

Loooove this one. "Got ya!"

She wanted nothing to do with a cute little witch costume I had brought for her. We completely changed her and she was so upset that we put her casual clothes back on. She really didn't even want to stand in this little pumpkin heart that I made...but a big ol' tractor came roarin' by and she hopped right in - like it was a safety zone!

We had to finish up the session on the following day and man was it a windy one!

Emma "hurt" her hand on something and was being very sad. She made momma kiss it then looked at me like "haha, I have her wrapped around my little finger!"

Rogier Family

Jay, Jess and Chase got up briiiiiight and early for their session! It was a tad bit chilly this morning, but the light was perfect!

Chase was seriously the ultimate little ham. 

Ahhh. Gorgeous families make photographers happy :-)

Osterkamp Girls {With Their Boys!}

Katie and Colleen are some lucky mommas to have such wonderful little boys! This session was photographed on an amazing fall evening and I think that was captured in these images.

For being only 3 months and 1 month old, these little boys were the most laid back babies I think I have ever photographed! They were just so sweet. And so chill!

I think just from looking at the photos you can see how much these mommas love their babes!

Ethan and Abby

This is Ethan and Abby - two of the most well dressed little kids ever! They are my little cousins and they are super adorable!

Their session was mid-November...you'd expect it to be freezing cold, right? We were originally planning on doing an indoor session but thanks to gracious Mother Nature, we were able to take it outdoors. It was a beautiful day!

I have used this location quite a few times, but never this exact spot. It was quite the hike, so I was pleasantly delighted when Emily agreed to let them trek down to it!

Right as we were about to finish up the kids started getting rowdy; they were running and Abby took a nosedive - on the cement! Somehow she managed to save her tights and only get a little scratch on her face. She was upset and crying but as soon as I told her she could have a sucker, she sat down with her brother and gave me another great smile before we called it quits!